February 25, 2015
The Darling Downs Hospital and Health Board visited the South Burnett on Tuesday and when they left, Cherbourg had a new Women’s and Children’s Service, and other South Burnett hospitals were told they would share in $249,000 worth of new items.
The Board meets monthly in different towns throughout the health service region, and this month it was Cherbourg’s turn.
After holding their meeting at The Ration Shed, the Board members walked across the road for the official opening of “Darin ‘meme ŋa bari bari’ ” , ie the new Women’s and Children’s Service.
The former maternity ward, which later became a doctor’s residence, a meeting place and then a “Place of Healing”, has been fully refurbished at a cost of $860,000 to become a purpose-built space for the provision of women’s and children’s services to the local community.
It was officially opened by Health Board chairman Mike Horan, Cherbourg Hospital and Health Service manager Tarita Fisher, Cherbourg mayor Ken Bone and community elder Kathleen Hopkins.
The ceremony followed speeches by Mr Horan, Cr Bone, Ms Fisher and a traditional song in Wakka Wakka by Ms Fisher’s mother, Vanessa Fisher.
Cr Bone said he was proud to have been born in the building, while Ms Fisher said the building had brought life to many Cherbourg families and once had been filled with the sounds of mothers singing and laughing, and the sound of newborns.
“There is no other more culturally appropriate place on our campus to house a health service for women,” she said.
After the official opening, the Health Board had some more good news for the South Burnett community.
Mr Horan said it had approved the purchase of equipment for all five hospitals operated by the DDHHS in the South Burnett:
- Cherbourg Hospital – $10,000 for the provision of Telehealth services.
- Nanango Hospital – $10,000 for the purchase of a hospital bed mover, which will be used to transfer patients from the ward to the helipad quickly and safely.
- Wondai Hospital – $13,000 to purchase a pressure redistribution mattress, which will help to increase comfort and reduce pressure injuries for patients in recovery.
- Murgon Hospital – $12,000 multi-function printer-scanner-fax machine to replace outdated equipment, and a vital signs monitor and stand valued at $7200.
- Kingaroy Hospital – various items of equipment for improved patient care, including a humidifier for high-flow air delivery valued at $9800; a digital tourniquet for administering anaesthesia during surgery worth $7324; two vaccine fridges totalling $10,000; an electrocardiograph (ECG) valued at $10,000 and a steriliser valued at $160,000.
The Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service covers approximately 90,000 sq km, about 1.5 times the size of Tasmania.
